| Mission type | Atmospheric studies |
|---|---|
| Satellite of | Earth |
| Launch date | May 5, 1967 |
| Launch vehicle | Scout rocket |
| Mission duration | 43 months |
| Orbital decay | December 14, 1970 |
| COSPAR ID | 1967-042A |
| Homepage | http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1967-042A |
| Mass | 89.8 kg |
| Orbital elements | |
| Eccentricity | 0.00800 |
| Inclination | 80.17° |
| Orbital period | 95.69 minutes |
Ariel 3 was the first artificial satellite designed and constructed in the United Kingdom. it was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5, 1967 aboard a Scout launch vehicle.[1][2] Ariel 3 had an orbital period of approximately 95 minutes, with an apogee of 608 km and a perigee of 497 km. It initially spun at 31 rpm for stability, though by the time the Ariel 3 deorbited, it had slowed to a rate of about 1 rpm.[2]
Ariel 3 carried five experiments. The experiments measured properties of the Thermosphere as well as detected "terrestrial radio noise" from thunderstorms and measured large-scale galactic radio frequency noise. Experimental data was recorded on an onboard tape recorder, then later transmitted to waiting observers on Earth. Ariel 3 was also fitted with a series of mirrors to allow easy observation of the satellite. On October 24, 1967 the tape recorder abroad Ariel 3 began to malfunction. This restricted observation to real-time operation only. Ariel 3 suffered from a significant power failure in December 1968, restricting the satellite's operation to daylight hours only. The satellite was completely shut down in September 1969. Its orbit decayed steadily until on December 14, 1970 when Ariel 3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere.[2]
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